Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-18
Miscellaneous.
A Debt Need Scare no One.

One of the pleasantest letters we have
perused for long while was recently re-
ceived from a subscriber in Orange coun-
ty, Vt, who has been constant reader of
these pages for many years. and has found
them OF much value in helping to plan
the farm work. Like many others, our
correspondent made the mistake OF buy
ing more land than he had the capital to
handle economically. The farm when
purchased five or six years ago, was con-
siderably run down by years OF cropping
with much manuring, and the buildings
bad been neglected, and had cost more
than the whole farm sold for, it being
in a somewhat Tout of the way locality.
About half the price was paid in cash, and
mortgage given to secure the balance
Only lew hundred dollars were retained
as working capital. which was invested in
few tools. a team and small herd OF
dairy cows. Butter was made and sent to
Boston, and fair prices obtained. Hard
work for two or three years made quite a
change in the appearance and products OF
the place, but the mortgage grew no
smaller, and sometimes the owner and his
good wife became little discouraged, and
wished they could find some easier place
or a situation where money would come in
faster. A year ago he came to Massachu-
sets and spent day discussing the situa-
ton with the agricultural editor of the New
England Farmer, and suggested selling.
letting or abandoning the farm to enable
him to work few years as foreman for
some wealthy city farmer near Boston. who
might be willing to pay him enough to en-
able him to lift the mortgage and begin
again with more promising outlook.
Our advice was to 90 back to his YER
mont farm and work it out on the line he
had started, but to farm better, gradually
keep more stock, and try to get larger
crops from less land. He writes now that
he has cut double the hay this year he did
at first, and the yield of his other crops Is
in that proportion. A small investment
in superphosphate seems to pay well in
making the crops worth harvesting after
the labor of making them has been ex-
pended. At first the crops were so light
that little profit could be realized from
their production His stock has been
doubled, and yet he has plenty of fodder
to carry it through. Meal to the value of
$3.50 was bought and fed out on the farm
the past year, which must help enrich
the land. He has repaired and enlarged
his barn, bought a new wagon and other
farm implements, and keeps his interest
money paid promptly, but as the principal
has not been reduced, he reckons that he
has only just made IA living. and is rather
wishing vet for some easy, lucrative
situation as servant to another. Our adj
vice now is the same as when given be
fore. stick and do not get dis
couraged so long as the farm is
improving and growing more productive
every year A large proportion of the
business men in our cities pay interest on
the land and buildings they occupy, and
probably a still larger proportion of their
employees live in hired homes. A farmer
who gets money at fair rate of interest
need not worry about small debt so long
as his business is paying the interest and
giving him good living and the farm is
constantly improving, Many business
man puts all his profits into his business
for many years. and if it is a good bus
ness such course is just the one to follow
1t is happy feeling 10 have ones home
and business all clear of debt, but if one
is putting his profits into his business he
may be dolrg better than if he paid OFT
the debt.-NcW England Farmer.